SUMMARY
- Antonio Rodiger joined the youth side of of Germany when he was only 7.
- Rudiger started his career in Germany with stints in five different youth clubs.
Antonio Rudiger moved towards a professional career in soccer early in his life. The German defender joined youth sides in Germany when he was only seven years old. Counting his youth career, center back has given 23 years of his life to soccer.
From humble beginnings in Germany to the top of European soccer with Chelsea and Real Madrid. Rudiger has a successful career in Europe. This success allows the fans to look back at the long journey of the German center back, which took him from Germany to Spain.
Antonio Rudiger’s stints in Germany
Rudiger started his career in Germany with stints in five different youth clubs. He joined VfB Sperber Neukölln in July 2000 and spent two years there before moving to SV Tasmania Berlin in July 2002. The center-back spent another three years in Berlin before moving to Neuköllner Sportfreunde 1907 in July 2005 for a season.
[#Bundesliga] Retenez bien ce nom, Antonio Rüdiger, la grande pépite du VFB Stuttgart ! http://t.co/j1ztmdmeJm pic.twitter.com/C0T2MRoI7L
— Footballogue (@Footballogue) October 9, 2014
In July 2006, Rudiger moved to FC Hertha 03 Zehlendorf as a 13-year-old promising talent. He spent two years at Hertha before moving to the under-17 side of Borussia Dortmund in July 2008. Rudiger spent three years at Dortmund, where he moved from the under-17 side to the under-19 side in July 2010 before moving away to VfB Stuttgart under-19 side in July 2011.
Rudiger was quickly promoted from the under-19 side of VfB Stuttgart to VfB Stuttgart II in July 2011. The center-back played for a whole season for the secondary side of the German club before moving to the first team VfB Stuttgart in July 2012. VfB Stuttgart was the first senior team of Rudiger’s career. He played 80 matches for the German club before moving away to AS Roma.
Antonio Rudiger moved away from Germany to join AS Roma
Rudiger joined AS Roma on August 19, 2015, on a loan deal. The initial loan was completed in June 2016 but Roma was impressed with the center back which is why they signed the German defender on a permanent transfer in July 2016.
Crazy how AS Roma once had, De Rossi, Mohammed Salah , Antonio Rudiger, Allison, Pjanic in the same squad and won nothing
— BarrackBoy (@alao_seyi) March 4, 2022
The German center-back was again impressive in his second season in Serie A. The performances of the defender attracted interest from many clubs in the summer of 2017. English club, Chelsea, came out on top to lure Antonio Rudiger from AS Roma after 72 appearances in two seasons.
Antonio Rudiger’s move from AS Roma to Chelsea
Rudiger joined Chelsea from AS Roma on July 9, 2017, on a five-year deal. The London-based club paid £29 million ($37 million) to acquire the services of the German defender. The center-back was impressive throughout his stint with the English club.
Antonio Rudiger’s Chelsea announcement.
A true classic.
— Louis (@RealityChelsea) February 2, 2023
He made 203 appearances for Chelsea in five years and cemented himself as one of the most consistent defenders in Europe. The German won one UCL title, one FIFA Club World Cup, one Europa League, and one FA Cup during his five years at the London club.
Antonio Rudiger joined Real Madrid in 2022
Rudiger ran down his contract with Chelsea that he signed with the English club in 2017. The center-back was a free agent in the summer of 2022 and joined Real Madrid on July 1, 2022, on a free transfer. The German defender was expected to be the next big pillar at the back after Sergio Ramos left for PSG in the summer of 2021.
Most aerial duels won at Real Madrid this season:
• Antonio Rüdiger (55)
• Aurelien Tchouaméni (50) @marca #rmalive pic.twitter.com/0aGcKwE60g— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) February 16, 2024
Rudiger has been a consistent presence at the back for the Spanish club, with 83 appearances in all competitions since joining the club. He has played an influential role in helping Real Madrid win four major trophies. The center-back is only 30 years old and is expected to remain at Real Madrid till the end of his current contract in 2026.